§415.__Service fees

The office shall establish a fee schedule for inspection services provided by licensed building inspectors to owners or developers based on the square footage of a building.

§416.__Rules

The office shall adopt rules to implement this chapter.__The rules must include a fee schedule for services provided by licensed building inspectors and standards for testing and licensing building inspectors.__Rules adopted pursuant to this section are designated as routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 2. Reorganization plan. The Department of Professional and Financial Regulation shall develop and submit a plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development prior to the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature to merge into the Office of Building Codes established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, chapter 8 the plumbing, electrical, fire and energy code inspection functions of state agencies as exist on the effective date of this Act.

Sec. 3. Effective date. Section 1 of this Act takes effect July 1, 2004.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes the Office of Building Codes within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to ensure the uniform code compliance and efficient oversight of construction of new residential and commercial buildings in the State. The office is responsible for providing testing and licensing standards for private building inspectors and establishing a fee schedule for building inspector services. This bill also requires owners and developers of residential and commercial buildings to certify to the Office of Building Codes that a newly constructed building meets all applicable building and energy codes. It also requires the department to submit a plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development prior to the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature to merge into the Office of Building Codes